Flat cable and connector

Abstract

To provide a flat cable having versatility for a plurality of kinds of connectors.SOLUTION: A flat cable that can be fixed to a plurality of types of connectors includes a main body of the flat cable, a contact portion for electrical conduction disposed at an end portion of the main body of the flat cable, and a reinforcing member that is disposed at the end portion and reinforces the flat cable, in which a length of the contact portion is set to be longer than a length that can be in contact with each of conductor contact portions of the plurality of types of connectors and shorter than an insertion length of the flat cable in the plurality of types of connectors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for connecting a flat cable to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] In electrical and electronic equipment, electronic boards and components are electrically connected to each other using various cables to ensure continuity. Among these cables, there is a type called a flat cable, which is used in many devices because it allows for the wiring of many signal lines and power lines in a small space.

[0003] On the other hand, in flat cables with a large number of wires arranged, the gaps between the wires in the cable are narrow. In such narrow-pitch products, if the flat cable is inserted into the connector at an angle or if it is not properly fixed after insertion, there is a possibility that adjacent wires may come into contact and cause a short circuit of signals or power.

[0004] For this reason, connectors for narrow-pitch flat cables often use a method of fixing the flat cable with a movable fixing member to prevent the cable from coming loose or moving after insertion.

[0005] However, since operating the movable fixing member is not an easy task, Patent Document 1 proposes a structure that makes it easy to insert the flat cable to the correct mating position and makes it difficult for the flat cable to come off the connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-44143 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the flat cable and connector have special structures, and each flat cable requires a connector dedicated to that cable. Therefore, compared to when using a general flat cable, it is not possible to ensure compatibility with connectors from multiple connector manufacturers or with the respective movable methods of the fixing members.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flat cable that is versatile and can be used with a plurality of types of connectors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The flat cable of the present invention is a flat cable that can be fixed to multiple types of connectors, and comprises a main body of the flat cable, a contact portion for electrical conduction that is arranged at the end of the main body of the flat cable, and a reinforcing member that is arranged at the end and reinforces the flat cable, and is characterized in that the length of the contact portion is longer than the length that allows it to contact each of the conductor contact portions of the multiple types of connectors, and is shorter than the insertion length of the flat cable in the multiple types of connectors. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a versatile flat cable can be provided that can be used with a variety of connectors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a flat cable according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the shape of a connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing the mating of the connector and flat cable. [Figure 4] A diagram showing how to insert a flat cable vertically into a connector. [Figure 5] A diagram showing how to insert a flat cable horizontally into a connector. [Figure 6] 6A to 6C are diagrams showing features of a reinforcing plate of a flat cable according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0013] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a flat cable according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows the overall configuration of the flat cable of this embodiment, which is almost the same as that of a commonly used flat cable, except that its dimensions are appropriately set. Fig. 1(a) is a plan view of the flat cable 100 with the conductor exposed portion 103 facing upward, and Fig. 1(b) is a side view of the flat cable 100.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1(b), the flat cable 100 is mainly composed of a conductor 110 for electrical connection with a connector, a reinforcing plate (reinforcing member) 112, and an insulating section (insulator) 115 that houses a plurality of arranged conductor wires. Various dimensions of the flat cable are shown in Fig. 1(a) and (b). More specifically, the overall length 101 of the flat cable, the length 102 of the exposed conductor section 103, the length 104 of the reinforcing plate 112, the thickness 111 of the flat cable 100, the thickness 113 of the conductor 110, and the thickness 114 of the exposed conductor section 103 are shown.

[0015] 1(c), an enlarged view of the exposed conductor portion 103 located at the end of the flat cable body, shows the dimensions of each portion of the exposed conductor portion 103. The conductor-to-conductor dimension P in the exposed conductor portion 103 indicates the pitch between the contact pins of the flat cable 100, and is generally set to 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.3 mm, or the like. Furthermore, CW indicates the width of one conductor 110, M indicates the distance from the side of the flat cable to the endmost conductor 110, and Pt indicates the distance between the centers of the conductors at both ends of the flat cable 100 in the width direction. Since the exposed conductor portion 103 has the insulating layer 115 removed and a reinforcing plate 112 added instead, its thickness is close to the thickness 111 of the flat cable 100, and may be thicker.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the shape of the connector in the first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows two connectors (multiple types of connectors) as an example: connector 200 which is a first connector and connector 210 which is a second connector.

[0017] First, the connector 200 in Fig. 2(a) will be described. The connector 200 is an example of a connector in which contacts come into contact when a flat cable 100 is inserted. When the flat cable 100 is inserted between an insertion guide portion 201 and a connector exterior portion 202 of the connector 200, the conductor exposed portion 103 comes into contact with the conductor contact portion 203 of the connector 200, thereby enabling electrical conduction between the flat cable 100 and the connector 200.

[0018] Since the connector 200 is a component mounted on a substrate (circuit board) 220, the substrate mounting portion 204 is joined to the substrate 220 with a conductive material such as solder. The insertion guide portion 201 is fixed, and the flat cable 100 is inserted along the insertion guide portion 201. At this time, the tip of the flat cable 100 comes into contact with a protrusion (resistance portion) 201a at the bottom of the insertion guide portion 201, generating a certain amount of insertion resistance. Therefore, the insertion force is temporarily increased to insert the flat cable 100 into the connector 200.

[0019] Due to the inertia of the insertion force that temporarily increases when the tip of the flat cable 100 passes through the insertion guide portion 201, the flat cable 100 is easily inserted deep into the connector 200, ensuring reliable contact of the contact points.

[0020] When inserting flat cable 100, there are often cases where the contacts do not make secure contact because the flat cable 100 is not inserted all the way into the connector or is inserted at an angle into connector 200. However, a temporary increase in the insertion force against insertion guide portion 201 creates inertia, making it easier for flat cable 100 to be inserted all the way into connector 200. Connector 200 may be placed anywhere on substrate 220 (on the circuit board), and its position is not limited.

[0021] The connector 210 in FIG. 2(b) is configured to switch between fixing and releasing the flat cable 100 by operating a fixing portion (flapper) 211 that fixes the flat cable 100.

[0022] 2(b), the fixing portion 211 is opened, and the flat cable 100 is inserted all the way into the connector 210 along the connector exterior portion 212. The exposed conductor portion 103 of the flat cable 100 is brought into contact with the conductor contact portion 213 of the connector 210, and the fixing portion 211 is closed as shown by the dotted line in the figure to fix the flat cable 100. This ensures reliable contact between the exposed conductor portion 103 of the flat cable 100 and the conductor contact portion 213 of the connector 210.

[0023] The board mounting portion 214 of the connector 210 is similar to the board mounting portion 204 of the connector 200. The fixing portion 211 of the flat cable is shown as a rotating type in Fig. 2, but it may also be of a sliding type or the like, and the operating form of the fixing portion 211 is not limited.

[0024] 2, the board mounting portions 204, 214 are shown as surface-mounted components, but they may also be components inserted into the board 220, and the mounting form is not limited. Furthermore, although the board 220 is given as an example of the mounted components, they may also be other substrates such as a flat film cable, and are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the configuration of the connectors 210, 200 is one example, and the shapes and forms for achieving the connection function, such as the shapes of the fixing member 211, the insertion guide portion 201, and the conductor contact portions 203, 213, are not limited thereto.

[0025] 2, the component heights T1 and T2 of the connectors are different due to the difference in the insertion and fixing method. Therefore, the appropriate value for the length 102 of the exposed conductor portion 103 of the flat cable 100 will also be different due to the difference in the length of the reinforcing plate 112 of the flat cable 100 and the difference in the contact heights t1 and t2.

[0026] When the insertion guide portion 201 of the connector 200 is manufactured by molding or the like, the insertion guide portion 201 becomes a fixed member similar to the connector exterior portion 202. In this case, the length of the insertion guide portion 201 needs to be increased in order to set the threshold value of the insertion force of the flat cable 100 to an appropriate value. This is why the connector heights T1 and T2 are different.

[0027] Furthermore, when the insertion guide portion 201 is longer, the length of the insertion guide for inserting the flat cable 100 straight into the connector 200 is increased, which also has the effect of preventing the flat cable 100 from being inserted at an angle.

[0028] If the insertion guide portion 201 were shortened, the threshold insertion force would increase, and more force would be required to insert the flat cable 100. However, if the insertion guide portion 201 were made of a separate member or structure, it would be possible to reduce the height of the first connector 200 and make it the same as the height of the second connector 210. Furthermore, if the connectors have the same height, it would be easier to use flat cables 100 with the same dimensional settings.

[0029] In this embodiment, when the heights of the connectors 200 and 210 are different, a configuration is provided in which the flat cable and the connectors can be electrically connected regardless of whether the connector 200 or the connector 210 is mounted at the same position on the substrate 220.

[0030] 3 is a diagram showing the fitting of the connector and the flat cable in this embodiment, showing the state in which the flat cable 100 is inserted into the connectors 200 and 210.

[0031] 3 shows an example in which the flat cable 100 has a length of reinforcing plate 112 and a length of exposed conductor portion 103 that are adapted to the connector 200. In FIG. 3(a), when inserting the flat cable 100 into the connector 200, the length of reinforcing plate 112 must be long enough to allow an insertion operator or an insertion machine to hold and insert the flat cable 100 into the connector, as shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later. In addition, the length of exposed conductor portion 103 must be equal to or greater than the height t1 of the conductor contact portion 203.

[0032] 3(b) shows the same flat cable 100 as in FIG. 3(a) inserted into the connector 210. The length of the exposed conductor portion 103 is equal to or greater than the insertion distance of the connector 210, and it protrudes beyond the connector 210. If the exposed conductor portion 103 protrudes beyond the connector 210, it may come into contact with surrounding conductors or components (not shown), potentially causing an electrical short circuit. Therefore, it is desirable that the length of the exposed conductor portion 103 be such that it can come into contact with the conductor contact portion 203 of the connector 200, but does not protrude beyond the connector 210.

[0033] By satisfying these conditions, flat cable 100 can be used in both connector 200 and connector 210. The length of reinforcing plate 112 may be longer than the insertion length into connector 210, but it must be long enough to prevent interference with surrounding components. Furthermore, shortening reinforcing plate 112 reduces the amount of material used for the reinforcing plate, which also contributes to reducing the cost of flat cable 100.

[0034] Since the flat cable 100 cannot be bent on the reinforcing plate 112 to define its path, the flat cable reinforcing plate 112 must be set to a length that does not interfere with the locations on the wiring path of the flat cable 100 where bending is required.

[0035] Furthermore, if there are components around the connectors 200 and 210 that may generate heat due to the passage of current, the following considerations are also necessary. That is, if there are components that generate heat, a flame retardant such as a fire spread prevention material must be placed in the area affected by the heat generated. Alternatively, surrounding components must be separated by a distance equal to the heat generation effect distance. In this regard, if the flat cable 100 is not made of a flame-retardant material, the path of the flat cable 100 must be bent so that it is not positioned in the area affected by the heat generation. In this case, too, the length of the flat cable reinforcing plate 112 must be specified so as not to interfere with the bending of the flat cable 100.

[0036] 4 is a diagram showing the state in which the flat cable 100 is being inserted vertically into the connector 200 of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, an inserter is shown pinching the reinforcing plate 112 of the flat cable 100 with fingers as insertion means (gripping means) 401. Note that in FIG. 4, the insertion means 401 is shown as fingers. However, the insertion means 401 is not limited to human hands, and an insertion machine, jig, or the like may also be used to pinch the flat cable 100 and insert it into the connector 200.

[0037] When inserting flat cable 100, it is desirable that insertion means 401 uses reinforcing plate 112 to prevent bending of the cable and to prevent poor contact with connector 200 due to contact with exposed conductor portion 103. Note that while connector 200 is shown in FIG. 4, the same applies to connector 210. Furthermore, other connectors may also be used, and the connector is not limited thereto.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the flat cable is inserted horizontally into the connector in this embodiment.

[0039] This shows a case where connector 200 is mounted horizontally on the board, and board mounting portion 501 of connector 200 has a shape that is horizontal to board 220. However, mounting portion 501 is not limited to a horizontal shape, and the shape is not limited as long as it can be connected to board 220 with a conductive material.

[0040] 4, the insertion means 401 inserts the flat cable 100 into the connector 200 with the reinforcing plate 112 sandwiched therebetween. Although Fig. 5 shows an example in which the connector 200 is disposed at the end of the substrate 220, the position of the connector 200 may be other than the end of the substrate 220 and is not limited thereto.

[0041] In this case, it is conceivable that the insertion means 401 may come into contact with the board 220 while inserting the flat cable 100 into the connector 200. Therefore, contact between the insertion means 401 and the board 220 can be prevented by removing, for example by cutting out, a portion of the board 220 below the connector 200. This improves the efficiency of insertion, prevents damage to the board 220, and prevents damage to the insertion means 401 and injury to the operator.

[0042] (Second embodiment) 6 is a diagram showing the characteristics of the reinforcing plate of the flat cable according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which a symbol (mark) 602 such as a line 601 or a circle is formed on the reinforcing plate 112 of the flat cable 100.

[0043] These lines and symbols are used to confirm that flat cable 100 has been inserted to the specified insertion position and that it has not been inserted at an angle after flat cable 100 has been inserted into connectors 200 and 210. Note that possible means for confirmation include visual inspection by a person or image confirmation by a machine, and the method is not limited thereto.

[0044] The position of the line 601 and the symbol 602 need only be visible from the outside of the connector after insertion. In this way, the accuracy of insertion of the flat cable can be confirmed by checking the position and inclination of the line and symbol after insertion. Alternatively, the line 601 and the symbol 602 can be positioned in a position that is invisible relative to the outer shape of the connector after insertion. In this case, the accuracy of insertion of the flat cable can be confirmed by checking that the line 601 and the symbol 602 are not visible after insertion. The line 601 and the symbol 602 are merely examples, and their area, shape, length, number, etc. are not limited.

[0045] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0046] The disclosure of this specification includes the following flat cables and connectors:

[0047] (Item 1) A flat cable that can be fixed to multiple types of connectors, a main body of the flat cable; a contact portion for electrical conduction disposed at an end of the main body of the flat cable; a reinforcing member disposed at the end portion and reinforcing the flat cable; Equipped with A flat cable characterized in that the length of the contact portion is set longer than the length required to contact each of the conductor contact portions of the multiple types of connectors, and shorter than the insertion length of the flat cable in the multiple types of connectors.

[0048] (Item 2) 2. The flat cable according to item 1, wherein the reinforcing member is formed to be longer than the insertion length of the flat cable in the plurality of types of connectors.

[0049] (Item 3) The flat cable described in item 2 is characterized in that the reinforcing member is formed to be longer than the insertion length of the flat cable by a length that can be gripped by an insertion means for inserting the flat cable into the multiple types of connectors.

[0050] (Item 4) 4. The flat cable according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of types of connectors each have a different length of the conductor contact portion and a different insertion length.

[0051] (Item 5) The flat cable described in any one of items 1 to 4 is characterized in that when the multiple types of connectors are arranged in the same position on a circuit board, the contact portions of the flat cable are configured to be able to come into contact with the conductor contact portions of all of the multiple types of connectors.

[0052] (Item 6) 6. The flat cable according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the reinforcing member is set to a length that does not prevent the flat cable from being bent.

[0053] (Item 7) The flat cable according to any one of items 1 to 6, characterized in that the reinforcing member has a mark formed thereon that allows confirmation that the flat cable has been correctly inserted into the multiple types of connectors.

[0054] (Item 8) Item 8. The flat cable according to item 7, wherein the mark is formed at a position of the reinforcing member that is visible from the outside of the multiple types of connectors when the flat cable is inserted into the multiple types of connectors.

[0055] (Item 9) Item 8. The flat cable according to item 7, wherein the mark is formed at a position on the reinforcing member that is hidden by the outer shapes of the multiple types of connectors when the flat cable is inserted into the multiple types of connectors.

[0056] (Item 10) 10. A connector into which the flat cable according to any one of items 1 to 9 is inserted, the connector having a fixing portion that fixes the flat cable when the flat cable is inserted.

[0057] (Item 11) Item 11. The connector according to item 10, characterized in that the fixing portion is formed with a resistance portion that generates resistance against the insertion of the flat cable so that the flat cable can be inserted when the pushing force when inserting the flat cable exceeds a certain value.

[0058] (Item 12) A connector into which the flat cable according to any one of items 1 to 9 is inserted, characterized in that the method for fixing the flat cable of the connector is a method in which the flat cable is fixed by operating a fixing part after the flat cable is inserted.

[0059] (Item 13) Item 13. The connector according to item 12, wherein the method for fixing the flat cable of the connector is a method for fixing by a flapper.

[0060] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100: Flat cable, 103: Exposed conductor portion, 112: Reinforcing plate, 200, 210: Connector, 201: Insertion guide portion, 202: Connector exterior portion, 203: Conductor contact portion, 220: Board

Claims

1. A flat cable that can be fixed to multiple types of connectors, a main body of the flat cable; a contact portion for electrical conduction disposed at an end of the main body of the flat cable; a reinforcing member disposed at the end portion and reinforcing the flat cable; Equipped with A flat cable characterized in that the length of the contact portion is set longer than the length required to contact each of the conductor contact portions of the multiple types of connectors, and shorter than the insertion length of the flat cable in the multiple types of connectors.

2. 2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is formed to be longer than the insertion length of the flat cable in the plurality of types of connectors.

3. 3. The flat cable according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing member is formed to be longer than the insertion length of the flat cable by a length that allows it to be gripped by an insertion means for inserting the flat cable into the plurality of types of connectors.

4. 2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of connectors have different lengths of the conductor contact portions and different insertion lengths.

5. 2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the contact portions of the flat cable are configured to be capable of contacting the conductor contact portions of all of the multiple types of connectors when the multiple types of connectors are arranged in the same position on a circuit board.

6. 2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a length that does not prevent the flat cable from being bent.

7. 2. The flat cable according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a mark formed thereon for confirming that the flat cable has been properly inserted into the plurality of types of connectors.

8. 8. The flat cable according to claim 7, wherein the mark is formed at a position on the reinforcing member that is visible from the outside of the plurality of types of connectors when the flat cable is inserted into the plurality of types of connectors.

9. 8. The flat cable according to claim 7, wherein the mark is formed at a position on the reinforcing member that is hidden by the outer shapes of the plurality of types of connectors when the flat cable is inserted into the plurality of types of connectors.

10. 10. A connector into which the flat cable according to claim 1 is inserted, the connector comprising a fixing portion for fixing the flat cable by inserting the flat cable into the fixing portion.

11. The connector according to claim 10, characterized in that the fixing portion is formed with a resistance portion that generates resistance against the insertion of the flat cable so that the flat cable is inserted when the pushing force when inserting the flat cable exceeds a certain value.

12. 10. A connector into which a flat cable according to claim 1 is inserted, characterized in that the method of fixing the flat cable of the connector is such that the flat cable is fixed by operating a fixing portion after the flat cable is inserted.

13. 13. The connector according to claim 12, wherein the flat cable is fixed to the connector by a flapper.

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